Storm Damage Forces Some From Cedar View Repairs To Home For Elderly May Take 10 Days

July 30, 1985|The Morning Call

It could be 10 days before some residents of Lehigh County's high-rise home for the elderly can return to their apartments, which were damaged Friday night when lightning struck the Cetronia complex.

All tenants on the 10th floor of the Cedar View complex and some on the ninth floor were evacuated.

They are living with family, with friends in the complex or at the Holiday Inn West until repairs are completed, James Creedon, county planning and development director, said yesterday.

He said lightning struck the building's chimney about 9 p.m. Friday night and extensively damaged the upper four levels, forcing some evacuations.

The masonry that was knocked off the chimney broke holes in the southwest quadrant of the main roof and boiler room roof and broke open spots in the elevator shaft, immobilizing the elevators.

As a result of the holes in the roof and the elevator shaft, storm water poured into the building, Creedon said.

He said four rooms in the southwest quadrant of the 10th floor received moderate to heavy water damage; three rooms in that same section on the ninth floor received almost equal damage.

Creedon said the water leaked into rooms as far down as the sixth floor, where much of the damage consisted of discolored ceiling tiles.

The roof was temporarily sealed Friday night until a contractor came in Saturday to make more lasting temporary repairs.

Elevator service was restored by 10 a.m. Saturday, Creedon said.

Creedon said the exact extent of damage was still unavailable yesterday. But the property was inspected by insurance adjusters.

"We are doing everything we can to accommodate the residents so they will have an adequate place to stay," said Creedon. "There are some tenants who, unfortunately, will be displaced up to 10 days."

Creedon and other county officials praised members of the Cetronia and Woodlawn fire departments, Cetronia Ambulance Corps, the Red Cross and the staffs at Cedarbrook and Cedar View for their help in evacuating tenants, cleaning up and handling security at the building.